Trace-carrier.



A. B. ANDREWS.

TRACE CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.4. 1914.

1,186,061. Patented June 6,1916.

ADELBERT B. ANDREWS, OF JUDITH GAP, MONTANA.

TRACE-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed April 4., 1914. Serial No. 829,698.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADELBERT B. AN- DREWS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Judith Gap, in the county of Meagher and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace-Carriers, of which the fo1- lowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to trace carriers and one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide reliable and eificient means for holding the end of a trace connected with the trace carrier in such a manner as to prevent accidental disconnection in handling the harness after it has been removed from the horse.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a trace carrier of comparatively simple construction in which a trace cock eye or trace may be readily connected or disconnected even in the cold weather by a person wearing mittens.

In the trace carriers as usually constructed, it is sometimes difficult to connect a cock eye to the projecting hooks and besides this, the cock eye is very liable to become detached, especially when the harness is removed from the horse to be hung up in a stable and this detachment is also very liable to occur when the harness is removed from the peg to be placed upon the horse.

My invention is designed for the purpose of improving the general characteristics of trace carriers and to provlde rellable means for connecting the trace end and supporting it during the unharnessing and harnessing of the horse.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1, is a plan view of a single trace carrier made in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional view of the same; Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional view; Fig. A, shows a detailed perspective view of one of the pivot tongues; Fig. 5, shows a lengthwise sectional view of a modification; Fig. 6, shows the spring tongue as used in the modification; Fig. 7, shows a further modification in which the housing is arranged to hold two cock eyes.

In carrying out the aim of my invention I employ a flat housing including a top 1, one

end of the same being rounded as at 3 and the opposite end open as at 4:. The opening extends the full width of the housing, as shown in Fig. 1. This housing is provided within its top with an edge entering slot 6, the under face of the top 1, being provided with the oppositely positioned seats 15, 15 shown in Fig. 3. The sides 5, 5 extend parallel, the housing being provided with a circumscribing border flange 7 having the strap openings 8, 9 and 10.

Extending through the top 1, near the outer edge of the housing, is a bore within which is held a pivot pin 11, upon which is held a tongue 12, shown in detail in Fig. 1. This tongue is provided with the oppositely extending lugs 14 and the outstanding finger hold 13, the lugs 14 being arranged for co-action with the seats 15, these lugs limiting the upward movement of the tongue. As shown, the finger hold 13, extends a suitable distance beyond the top of the housing.

In order to hold the moving end of the tongue 12, against the bottom 2, of the housing, I provide a leaf spring 16, which is secured by means of a pin 17 The rounded inner end of the housing is adapted to receive the rounded end of a cock-eye A, to which a trace B, is secured.

The strap opening 9, is arranged to receive the hip strap, while the openinglO, is arranged to receive the branches of the hip strap, which extend to the breeching. The openings 8, are arranged to receive a hitching strap. Two of these openings 8, are provided so that the hitching strap receiving slot will be in front. Having two slots thus permits the same carrier to be used either on the right or left side.

In the use of the device after the trace has been detached, the cock eye can be readily shoved into the housing, passing under the tongue and finally sliding beyond the end of the tongue, in the manner shown in Fig. 2. In order to remove the cock eye the operator simply presses on the projecting finger hold 13, in doing which the cock eyecan be readily removed.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, instead of a pivotally held tongue 12, I employ a V-shaped spring 4. The crook 6 of this spring is normally in contact with the bottom 1 of the housing. In Fig. 5, a cock eye A, is shown as held by a spring 4.

As shown this spring has the curved end 7 serving as a finger hold, the top of the holder being provided with a slot 3, which does not however enter from the edge. The spring is secured by means of the screw 5.

In Fig. 7, I show a still further modification .in which the duplex housing 20 is arranged to be held squarely upon the back of the animal. In this modification the pivoted tongues 21 are actuated by gravity but are in all other ways identical to those in form and operation as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, being pivoted to the housing and also provided with lugs that are adapted to be seated in pockets formed in the housing to limit the movement of the tongues relative to the housing. The tact that the form as shown in Fig. 7 is held squarely upon the back of the animal, the tongues will, as before described, necessarily be actuated by gnvity. In this modification the housing is also provided with a flange identical to that as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and also has openings that have extending from one of the same a crupper 22 and opposite the crapper is the back strap 24.. The two sets of hip straps 23 extend transversely to the straps 23 and 24 heretofore described. The operation of this modification may be also readily understood. The cock eye A, is merely pushed into the housing to raise the tongue or spring until the loop in the cock eye rests behind the detent.

My invention is simple in construction and can be made in single or double form, as an attachment to all classes of harness, and is adapted to accommodate all kinds of traces and cock eyes, the construction being such that the cock eyes can be inserted into .the housing or removed therefrom, with ease, accuracy and despat-ch.

Having thus described my said invention,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents.

what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A trace carrier including in combination, a Hat housing having a rounded end with an oppositely positioned access opening extending the full width of the housing, the top of the housing having an edge entering slot with seats within the under face of said top upon opposite sides of said slot, a bore extending through the top near the outer edge, a pin within said bore extending across said slot, a tongue pivoted upon said pin having an outstanding finger hold and oppositely positioned lugs "for co-action with said seats one end of said tongue contacting with the bottom of said housing, a spring secured to the top of said housing and pressing upon said tongue, and a border flange projecting from said housing having strap openings, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A trace carrier including a plate, a housing on said plate having one end of the same open to admit a trace end, a tongue connected to said housings-aid housing provided with recesses formed therein and means projecting from said tongue adapted to be seated in said recesses to limit the movement of said tongue in one direction.

3. A trace carrier comprising a metal plate, a housing connected to said plate and provided with an opening to admit a trace end, and a tongue connected to said housing said tongue having a finger hold and oppositely projecting stop lugs, the body of the box having recesses to accommodate said stop lugs.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

ADELBERT B. ANDREWS. iVitnesses":

J, A. MICKEL, H. L. BILLS.

Washington, II. C." 

